Stationary exerciser

ABSTRACT

A stationary exerciser includes two handles pivotally coupled to an upright support of a base and each having an upwardly extended hand grip and an outwardly extended arm, two foot supports each having a rear portion moveable in a reciprocating action relative to the base and a front portion coupled to the arms of the handles with coupling devices, and two links pivotally coupled between the lower portions of the handles and the foot supports for maintaining the arms and the handles and the foot supports in position and for allowing the arms and the foot supports to be moved in a curved moving stroke relative to the base and for allowing the moving stroke of the foot supports to be adjusted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stationary exerciser, and more particularly to a stationary exerciser including an improved structure for allowing the front portion of the stationary exerciser to be moved up and down in a reciprocating action.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical stationary exercisers comprise a pair of foot supports or foot engaging links each having a rear end supported for rotational motion about a pivot axis and a front end guided in a reciprocal path of travel and for allowing the foot engaging links to move in an elliptical moving stroke.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,343 to Miller discloses one of the typical stationary exercisers comprising a combination of foot link motions permitting the users foot to travel in an inclined, oval path of travel, and two foot engaging links each having a front end guided in a reciprocal path of travel.

However, the front ends of the foot engaging links are guided to move in a reciprocal path of travel that is determined by the sliding engagement between the front ends of the foot engaging links and the tracks.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,135 to Chen discloses another typical stationary exerciser comprising a pair of tubes rotatably secured to two arms of a crank, and two levers slidably engaged in the tubes for allowing the tubes to move forward and rearward and upward and downward in an elliptical moving stroke.

However, the sliding engagement between the tubes and the levers is weak and may be easily damaged.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,136 to Chen discloses a further typical stationary exerciser comprising a pair of beams each having a front end pivotally coupled to a post with a lever for swinging relative to the post, and a rear end supported for rotational motion about a pivot axis and for allowing the beams to move in an elliptical moving stroke.

However, the movement of the front ends of the beams is determined by the downwardly dependent levers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,926 to Lee discloses a still further typical stationary exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports each having a front end pivotally coupled to a rotatable crank and each having a rear end supported for swinging motion about an upper pivot rod and for allowing the foot supports to move in an elliptical moving stroke.

However, the cranks may not be solidly coupled to the arms for the handles.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,036 to Kuo discloses a still further typical stationary exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports each having a front end pivotally coupled to a downwardly dependent bar with a complicated coupling mechanism and a rear end supported for rotational motion about a pivot axis and for allowing the beams to move in an elliptical moving stroke.

However, the typical stationary exerciser comprises a complicated structure that may not be easily assembled and that may include a greatly increased manufacturing cost.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional stationary exercisers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stationary exerciser including an improved structure for allowing the front portion of the stationary exerciser to be moved up and down in a reciprocating action.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a stationary exerciser including an improved structure for allowing the stationary exerciser to be made with a greatly decreased manufacturing cost and for allowing the stationary exerciser to be easily assembled.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a stationary exerciser comprising a base including an upright support extended upwardly therefrom, two handles each including an upper portion pivotally coupled to the upright support with a spindle for allowing the handles to be pivoted and swung relative to the upright support of the base, and each including a hand grip extended upwardly therefrom, and each including an arm extended outwardly therefrom for allowing the arms to be moved up and down in a reciprocating action relative to the upright support of the base, and each including a lower portion, two foot supports each including a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portions of the foot supports being arranged to be moved in a reciprocating action relative to the base, a coupling device for coupling the front portions of the foot supports to the arms of the handles, and two links pivotally coupled between the lower portions of the handles and the foot supports respectively for maintaining the arms and the handles and the foot supports in position and for allowing the arms of the handles and the foot supports to be moved in a curved moving stroke relative to the base.

The foot supports each include an opening formed in the front portion thereof for slidably receiving the links. The links are pivotally coupled to the lower portions of the handles with pivot joints.

The base includes a spindle provided on the upright support for pivotally supporting the handles. The handles are pivotally secured to the spindle with barrels and the arms are extended outwardly from the barrels.

The coupling device includes two tubes pivotally coupled to the front portions of the foot supports respectively, and two shanks coupled between the tubes and the arms of the handles respectively. The shanks are adjustably coupled to the arms of the handles respectively, and/or the shanks are adjustably coupled to the tubes respectively.

The base includes two cranks rotatably attached to a rear portion of the base with an axle and each having a pivot rod attached thereto and spaced away from the axle for pivotally or rotatably coupling to the rear portions of the foot supports respectively.

The base includes a wheel attached to the base with an axle and moved in concert with the axle for resisting a rotational movement of the wheel and the axle and the cranks. A rotary member may further be provided and attached to the base and coupled to the wheel.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a stationary exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the stationary exerciser;

FIG. 3 is a side plan schematic view of the stationary exerciser;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the stationary exerciser as seen from the front portion of the stationary exerciser;

FIG. 5 is another partial exploded view of the stationary exerciser as seen from the rear portion of the stationary exerciser; and

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view illustrating the other arrangement of the stationary exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a stationary exerciser 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10, an upright support 11 extended upwardly from the base 10 for supporting a spindle 12 thereon, a pair of or two handles 20 each include an upper or middle portion 21 attached or secured to the spindle 12 with a barrel 22 for allowing the handles 20 to be pivotally coupled to the upright support 11 with the spindle 12 and for allowing the handles 20 to be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and a hand grip 23 provided or extended upwardly from the upper or middle portion 21 thereof for being grasped or held or operated by the users, and an arm 24 extended forwardly or outwardly from the upper or middle portion 21 thereof for allowing the arms 24 to be moved or pivoted up and down in a reciprocating action relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10.

A pair of or two foot supports 30 each include a front portion 31 pivotally coupled to the forwardly or outwardly extended arm 24 with a coupling means or device 40 for allowing the front portions 31 of the foot supports 30 to be moved forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly in a curved moving stroke relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the coupling means or device 40. For example, the coupling device 40 include a shank 41 slidably engaged into the arms 24 and having one or more orifices 42 formed therein for selectively engaging with a fastener 43 which may adjustably secure the shank 41 to the arm 24 at the selected extension position, a stem 44 pivotally coupled to the free end or outer end 45 of the shank 41 and having one or more apertures 46 formed therein (FIG. 5), and a tube 47 pivotally coupled to the front portion 31 of the foot support 30 and having a bore 48 formed therein for slidably receiving the stem 44 and for coupling to the arm 24 of the handle 20.

Another fastener 49 may selectively engage with the apertures 46 of the tube 47 for adjustably securing the stem 44 to the tube 47 and thus for adjustably securing the tube 47 and the foot support 30 to the arm 24 of the handle 20. It is to be noted that the shank 41 may be adjustably secured to the arm 24 of the handle 20 and/or the stem 44 may be adjustably secured to the tube 47 and the foot support 30 such that the movement of the foot support 30 relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 and the handle 20 may be suitably adjusted and such that the moving stroke of the foot support 30 relative to the base 10 may also be suitably adjusted. A link 32 includes one end 33 pivotally coupled to the foot support 30, such as pivotally coupled to the middle or lower portion of the foot support 30, and the other end 34 pivotally coupled to the lower portion 25 of the handle 20 with such as a pivot joint 26 for maintaining the arm 24 and the handle 20 and the coupling device 40 and the foot support 30 in place or in position.

It is to be noted that the pivotal coupling of the link 32 between the handle 20 and the foot support 30 may maintain the relative coupling of the coupling device 40 between the arm 24 of the handle 20 and the foot support 30 and may maintain the arm 24 of the handle 20 at the forwardly or outwardly extended position relative to the base 10, to allow the arm 24 of the handle 20 and the front portion 31 of the foot support 30 to be moved forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly in the curved moving stroke relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and to prevent the arm 24 of the handle 20 from being dependent downwardly relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. It is preferable that the foot support 30 includes an opening 35 formed or provided in the front portion 31 thereof for slidably receiving the other end 34 of the link 32. However, it is to be noted that the link 32 may also be disposed beside the foot support 30 (FIG. 6) without engaging the other end 34 through the opening 35 of the foot support 30.

A pair of or two cranks 50 are rotatably attached or secured to an upright post 13 that is extended upwardly from the rear portion 14 of the base 10 with an axle 15, and the cranks 50 each include a pivot rod 51 provided or attached thereto or extended outwardly therefrom and spaced away from or distal to the axle 15 for pivotally coupling to the rear portion 36 of the foot support 30 and for allowing the rear portions 36 of the foot supports 30 to be rotated relative to the upright post 13 of the base 10 in a cycling or reciprocating action, and thus for allowing the foot supports 30 to be moved relative to the base 10 in an elliptical moving stroke. The foot supports 30 each include a foot pedal 37 provided thereon for supporting the feet of the users and for allowing the foot pedal 37 to be stepped or moved or operated in the elliptical moving stroke by the users.

A rotary member or pulley or wheel 60 is attached or secured to the axle 15 and moved or rotated in concert with the axle 15 and the cranks 50, another wheel or pulley or rotary member 61 is rotatably attached to the middle or rear portion 14 of the base 10 with a shaft 62, for example, the base 10 includes a stud 16 extended upwardly from the middle or rear portion 14 of the base 10 for supporting the shaft 62 and the rotary member 61 thereon, and the rotary member 61 or the shaft 62 is coupled to the wheel 60 with a coupling device 63 which may be selected from such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or a gearing coupling device (not shown), or a belt 63 for allowing the rotary member 61 to be rotated or driven by the wheel 60 and the cranks 50. The rotary member 61, the wheel 60 and the shaft 62 are coupled together to form a resistive means or device for applying a resistive force or for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 60 and the axle 15 and the cranks 50.

However, the other resistive device, such as the hydraulic or pneumatic resistive devices (not shown), or the magnetic retarding devices (not shown) may also be used to apply the resistive force against the wheel 60 and the axle 15 and the cranks 50. It is further to be noted that the rear portions 36 of the foot supports 30 may also be pivotally coupled to the rear portion 14 of the base 10 with curved tracks (not shown), downwardly dependent or swing arms (not shown), or rotary members or pulleys or wheels or rollers (not shown) or other coupling devices 70 (FIG. 6) which may pivotally couple and support the rear portions 36 of the foot supports 30 to the rear portion 14 of the base 10 or may allow the rear portions 36 of the foot supports 30 to be moved in a cycling or forward and rearward reciprocating action relative to the rear portion 14 of the base 10, and which will be filed in a co-pending patent application.

The present invention is to provide a pivotal coupling of the link 32 between the handle 20 and the foot support 30 to maintain the relative coupling of the coupling device 40 between the arm 24 of the handle 20 and the foot support 30 and to maintain the arm 24 of the handle 20 at the forwardly or outwardly extended position relative to the base 10, and thus to allow the arm 24 of the handle 20 and the front portion 31 of the foot support 30 to be moved forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly in the curved moving stroke relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and thus to allow the foot support 30 to be moved in a relatively increased moving stroke, and to allow the moving stroke of the foot support 30 to be adjusted by the users with the shank 41 and the stem 44 and the tube 47 of the coupling device 40.

The typical stationary exercisers failed to provide two handles 20 pivotally coupled to an upright support 11 of a base 10 and each having a lower portion 25 pivotally coupled to the foot support 30 with a pivotal link 32, and each having an arm 24 extended forwardly or outwardly from the handle 20 for pivotally coupling to the front portions 31 of the foot support 30 with a coupling means or device 40 and for allowing the arm 24 of the handle 20 and the front portion 31 of the foot support 30 to be moved forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly in the curved moving stroke relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10.

Accordingly, the stationary exerciser in accordance with the present invention includes an improved structure for allowing the front portion of the stationary exerciser to be moved up and down in a reciprocating action, and for allowing the stationary exerciser to be made with a greatly decreased manufacturing cost and for allowing the stationary exerciser to be easily assembled.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A stationary exerciser comprising: a base including an upright support extended upwardly therefrom, two handles each including an upper portion pivotally coupled to said upright support with a spindle for allowing said handles to be pivoted and swung relative to said upright support of said base, and each including a hand grip extended upwardly therefrom, and each including an arm extended outwardly therefrom for allowing said arms to be moved up and down in a reciprocating action relative to said upright support of said base, and each including a lower portion, two foot supports each including a front portion and a rear portion, said rear portions of said foot supports being arranged to be moved in a reciprocating action relative to said base, means for coupling said front portions of said foot supports to said arms of said handles, and two links pivotally coupled between said lower portions of said handles and said foot supports respectively for maintaining said arms and said handles and said foot supports in position and for allowing said arms of said handles and said foot supports to be moved in a curved moving stroke relative to said base.
 2. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot supports each include an opening formed in said front portion thereof for slidably receiving said links.
 3. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said links are pivotally coupled to said lower portions of said handles with pivot joints.
 4. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a spindle provided on said upright support for pivotally supporting said handles.
 5. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said handles are pivotally secured to said spindle with barrels and said arms are extended outwardly from said barrels.
 6. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes two tubes pivotally coupled to said front portions of said foot supports respectively, and two shanks coupled between said tubes and said arms of said handles respectively.
 7. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shanks are adjustably coupled to said arms of said handles respectively.
 8. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shanks are adjustably coupled to said tubes respectively.
 9. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes two cranks rotatably attached to a rear portion of said base with an axle and each having a pivot rod attached thereto and spaced away from said axle for pivotally coupling to said rear portions of said foot supports respectively.
 10. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a wheel attached to said base with an axle and moved in concert with said axle for resisting a rotational movement of said wheel and said axle and said cranks.
 11. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 10, wherein a rotary member is attached to said base and coupled to said wheel. 